Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 299: Cutting off excess baggage

Chapter 299: Cutting off excess baggage

The faint cries of depraved souls could be heard coming from somewhere down below, from within the dark expanse that led to who knows where.

Alex furrowed his brows at the sight, goosebumps breaking out on his skin as he slowly turned away.

Though slightly bothered by the cries, it wasn’t about to prevent him from delving in to figure out its source.

"Has there been any movements from... the Pit?" Alex inquired with Ana shaking her head.

"None at all. Well, that’s if you ignore the increased rate of corruption in the environment."

Alex nodded in satisfaction though his expression remained stern. "Alright then. We should get going."

"We were waiting for you so we could head down together," Victoria remarked.

"Thank you."

"Alright then, boys." Alejandro loudly said, drawing the attention of his comrades. "Pack up, we are heading out in an hour."

"Alejandro." Alex suddenly called out.

"Yes, human?"

"If we are going to keep working together, I believe it’s time to cut off the excess baggage."

"Hmm?" Alejandro furrowed his brows at the unexpected statement.

"You and I both know that the battle against Platadoris could have been handled better if we were the only ones facing off against him. You could have been a much better ally but because of your comrades, you ended up using your emotions to fight instead of your head."

"What are you trying to say, human?"

Alex slowly replied. "Let’s face it, your so-called comrades are your weakness."

"How dare you!" Enrique bellowed as he glared at Alex.

Alex didn’t even bother with a response as he kept his gaze on Alejandro, the latter who seemed to be struggling to accept his words.

"You know I’m right, Alejandro. And you know that the best thing to do right now is to cut off excess baggage. If the battle with Platadoris taught us anything, it’s that your kind is severely weakened when it comes to mental attacks."

Alex’s words struck close to home as Alejandro closed his eyes, his lips sealed as he found Him unable to refute Alex.

But was there a need to do so?... Alex was indeed right.

Mental attacks were a horrifying weakness of the Beast Wheel with none of their Powers giving them the much-needed capability to fend them off.

’Blood lineage is the most powerful offensively, Psionics are the most troublesome and Spiritomancy is the most versatile.’

It was a BeastMan that had coined that phrase and it held till today.

Alejandro gritted his teeth as he finally opened his eyes to meet Alex’s own.

"You..."

"My lord!" Enrique called out, cutting off Alejandro who turned to regard him.

"I understand you are worried about us but we all knew what we signed up for when we came here. Sending us back while you forge on is impossible. Let us fight by your side."

Before Alejandro could think up a resort, Alex was already prepared. "And if we end up facing off against yet another adversary capable of powerful mental attacks?"

Enrique glared hatefully at Alex but found himself unable to give a reasonable response.

"I understand you wish to die with your Rey but die responsibly, not like some fool. Your Rey can barely control himself when a few of you die yet you wish to put everyone at risk?... That’s not bravery, that’s stupidity."

"Don’t cross your limits, human!" Enrique retorted.

Alex sighed. "Fine then. As far as I know, your kind only listens to strength so..."

"That’s enough!" Alejandro suddenly spoke up, cutting Alex off.

Alex glanced at him, same with Enrique, both anticipating his response.

Alejandro let out a deep sigh as he shifted his attention to Enrique. "Take the men and leave for the forest edge. Set up camp there and await my return."

"My lord!"

"That’s enough, Enrique. The human is right. We aren’t weak but our compatibility with mental attacks leaves us at a gross disadvantage. I can’t bear to watch more of you die so return for now. I shall return victorious soon."

"..." Enrique stayed silent with a complicated expression on his face.

Oh, how he wished he could say something to convince the Rey but he knew he couldn’t.

Alejandro had already made up his mind and no amount of pleading would change it.

Albeit unwillingly, Enrique turned and left, leading the BeastMen to pack up camp in preparation to withdraw.

Seeing this happen, Alejandro couldn’t help but yearn to call them back but he knew that was his selfishness.

There was no point putting them in harm’s way any longer.

Alejandro glanced at Alex who met his gaze with a casual demeanor about him.

"Will you be sending your subordinates back as well?" Alejandro inquired.

Alex shook his head. "Only the strongest are with me and in any case, our minds aren’t so easily disturbed."

His meaning was clear; neither Ana nor Victoria were weak and most importantly, they were unaffected by the mental corruption of the abyss!

With that out of the way, Alejandro asked no further questions as he walked up to the edge of the pit, his previous excitement gone, replaced by melancholy.

Alex came to stand beside him as he remarked. "It was for the best and you know it."

"We BeastMen never battle alone. We have always fought side by side as brothers. This would be the first time I’d be doing something like this; fighting alone."

"But you aren’t alone." Ana intoned softly as she walked over. "We are with you as well."

"... Indeed, you are."

As Victoria came to stand beside Alex, the latter once again peered over the Pit, the depraved voices from below leaving him discomforted.

"We don’t know anything about what’s down there so we’d have to improvise as we proceed. Stay together and try not to touch anything."

"And on the off chance we are separated?" Alejandro asked.

"Then find the others. Under no circumstances should you think to proceed without doing so. There is strength in numbers, let’s not waste that."

"Understood."

Seeing as there were no further questions, Alex inquired. "Ready?"

With the others nodding in response, he remarked. "Then let’s go."